1093 Leaning Left

 Today is the last of the 30 day Strada Easel challenge.  I have truly enjoyed the experience and have learned many lessons throughout the 30 paintings.  I really like some of them, and others I am dying to change (or maybe not).

I hope you've enjoyed my progress and I, as always, appreciate you following my artistic journey.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1093-leaning-left/933792

1092 Two Generations

 The pink zinnias took off like crazy this year, but the orange zinnias were few and far between.   This is one of the few I could bring in to enjoy.  There are a few buds left and I will hope they will bloom before the frost.

Day 29 of the Strada Easel September 2021 challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1092-two-generations/933475

1091 Difference of Opinion

 There is a line between "persistence" and "glutton for punishment" and I crossed it again today.  I tried to paint yesterday's subject, yellow begonias,  which was a second complete failure.  Here is the second painting of the day and I'm happy with it.

Day 28 #stradaeasel Challenge 

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1091-difference-of-opinion/933190

1090 Within Reach

 What a day it has been!  My first painting is so bad that I had to paint another.  This isn't much better.  Some days are like that.  Time to move on.

Day 27 of the Strada Easel September challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1090-within-reach/932854

1089 Last Minute Decisions

 The extraneous tasks that accompany a painting--photographing, posting to social media, etc. are often very tedious.  So often I think I am finished with a painting, then I photograph it and discover something glaringly wrong, so I peel it off the wall, alter the painting, delete the old photos, and start over again. This happens many times for the same darn painting.  Very frustrating.

1088 Oh Happy Day

 It's a beautiful, happy day.  Nothing says "happy" like polka dots.  I love them.  In fact, later today we are attending a wedding and guess what I am wearing. A black and white polka dot dress! 

I was curious to know more about polka dots.  This is part of what I learned, compliments of Wikipedia.

"Polka-dots: If you can't let go of polka-dots dress or shirt, your personality is probably just as lively and energetic as the playful print. Those who prefer polka dots have also been identified as hardworking and multi-taskers. ... You can use polka dots even in neutral colors, like black, white, and grey."

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1088-oh-happy-day/932056

Day 25 of #stradaeasel challenge

1087 Defying Odds

 There is an unwritten "rule" that groupings of objects should always be in odd numbers, but I am defying that because there might be one flower hiding.  I'm sure you can see it behind those leaves.

Also, Daily Paintworks regularly posts challenges, and a recent challenge was for Even Number Challenge.  I submitted this painting.

Day 24 of the Strada Easel challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1087-defying-odds/931910

1086 Solo Performance

 Each day as I approach the top stair to the roof, I witness a flock of birds at the Campion Rooftop Spa, bathing in the puddles of the sprinklers, and feasting on sunflower seeds.  They fly away quickly, but not before I whisper hello and thanks for visiting.  I'm truly grateful that I do not have to share my space with rabbits or deer who may not be so courteous.

Renee Schwaller is the artist who made the little vase.  She is also the owner of Off the Wheel Pottery in Door County.  

Day 23 of the Strada Easel challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1086-solo-performance/931537

1085 Memories of Mamie

 I have always had a special fondness for gladiolas because they remind me of my Aunt Mamie, who had a great influence on me.  I always say that she was Martha Stewart before Martha Stewart.  Her creative talents were immense, and so were her domestic abilities.  Aunt Mamie had gorgeous gardens, including an entire plot of glads and another large garden full of award winning roses, where every day my job was to distribute the coffee grounds.  There was never a time when there was not a formal floral arrangement in the house, and all were beautiful.  When the fruit trees were laden, we would make jam on impulse.  For these and so many other reasons, I feel very fortunate to have grown up with her influence, and that I have inherited some of her creative genes.

Day 22 of the Strada Easel September challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1085-memories-of-mamie/931174

1084 Misty Morning

 

The days are getting shorter and the rooftop garden is struggling to stay alive and productive.  Soon there will be a lot of hard work to break it down, and at least one elevated bed will need taking apart before winter.  The cooler nights and fading plant life are a strong indicators that you-know-what is coming and I for one hate to see summer ending.  

I got an early start on my painting today.  It was grey and misty outside and I was struck by how vibrant the geraniums are on our patio.  Have you noticed that Nature's color palette in general is more brilliant in the fall?  

Day 21 of the Strada Easel September challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1084-misty-morning/930813

1083 Simply Pink

 Apparently, pink flowers have many meanings--and all of them warm fuzzies.  Affection, love, romance, passion, sentiment, gentleness, happiness, grace, innocence.  I have come to love the color pink and all its variations, but particularly magenta.

Day 20 of the Strada Easel September 2021 challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1083-simply-pink/930538

1082 Safflower in an Olive Oil Tin

 This painting should really be called Sunday Morning Obsessing.  I've photographed, changed, photographed, changed umpteen times.

Day 19 of the Strada Easel September challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1082-safflower-in-an-olive-oil-tin/930080

1081 Hidden Agenda

 I have had it with these Gerber daisies.  

Day 18 of Strada Easel September 2021 30 -day challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1081-hidden-agenda/929894 

1080 The Gift of Sunshine

 Yellow is such a happy and beautiful color, but I have the hardest time painting it. There is not a lot of color variation in these daisies,  so my tendency is to get too fussy.  I will give it one more go tomorrow (as long as the flowers are still alive) and then I will try to find a different color daisies to paint.

Day 17 of the Strada Easel 30-day challenge. 

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1080-the-gift-of-sunshine/929560 

1079 Dancing Dahlias

 I have a few dahlias growing on the roof, and the bees LOVE them, in fact to the point where I have to be strategic in my attempt to cut them. They are very territorial.

Day 16 of the Strada Easel 30-day September challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1079-dancing-dahlias/929146

1078 Happy Polka Dot Day

 I found this darling little vase on Etsy and it arrived yesterday.  I know it will be a part of many future paintings.  Dyna and John of Owl Creek Ceramics processed the sale so quickly, and enclosed a cute little note.  

Day 15 of the Strada Easel 30-day challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1078-happy-polka-dot-day/928848

1077 Growth Spurt

 This year we modified our front patio gardens and we wanted to start out with plantings that were easy to find and reasonably priced.  We decided on Impatiens, and chose magenta/orange mix for 2 beds and 2 beds of white.  When I planted them, they looked so wimpy in the beds, but look at them now!!!  It's a little overbearing but I'm simply amazed at how happy they are!!  I've never seen impatiens this tall!!

Day 14 of the Strada Easel September challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1077-growth-spurt/928470

1076 Sharing the Spotlight

The zinnias are really difficult to paint because of all the individual petals.  I have to fight the inclination to paint each one, which would be tedious and boring for the viewer.  

Day 13 of the Strada Easel 30-day challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1076-sharing-the-spotlight/928192

 

1075 In love With Zinnias

 While all the vegetable plants on the roof are withering, the zinnias are brilliant and plentiful.  The pink ones are called Carmine and they are exquisite.  Zinnias love the conditions on the roof and it's really fun to wander among them and their guests, the bees, butterflies, and other polinators.

Strada Easel Challenge, Day 12 #stradaeasel

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1075-in-love-with-zinnias/927912

1074 Nipped in the Bud

 While perusing the roof this morning looking for a flower to honor in my painting, I came across the eggplant buds that likely won't make it to full eggplant growth.  I'm not sure this end result is what I had in mind, but it will have to do.

The vase is--you guessed it--from Off the Wheel Pottery, the third in a trio I purchased there one summer.  It has this wonky tree design that I have been avoiding for a very long time.  I'm happy with the way it turned out.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1074-nipped-in-the-bud/927650

1073 Hello Dahling

 

I planted dahlias from seed this year, and although they are lovely, they are not as beautiful or as intricate as those planted from tubers.  Maybe I'll try that next year.

Strada Easel September 30-day Challenge Day 10

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1073-hello-dahling/927269

1072 Beauty and a Beast

 A few years ago, I had the good fortune to observe a family of Great Horned Owls nest in our neighborhood.  It was an amazing experience.  Not only are they stealth, they are fierce.  The owlets were so adorable, and watching them fledge was amazing.  We were fortunate to have this same experience the following year.

The little vase was made by Renee Schwaller of Off the Wheel Pottery.  I couldn't resist the little owl, and the other side has a picture of a little perched bird.  I love the contrast of the elegant geranium and the whimsical image of the bird and hope you do too.

Day 8 of the Strada Easel September 30-day Challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1072-beauty-and-a-beast/926992

1071 Little Gem

 I'm going to apologize in advance of writing this post because I'm sure you are sick of hearing about my sunflowers, so I'm sorry if this bores you.  The parent plant of this sunflower is now 80 inches tall growing from an elevated bed that is 30 inches off the ground (roof) so it's pretty imposing and pretty impressive to me. This little sunflower managed to grow in the "elbow" of two larger flowers, and it is only 3 inches in diameter.  

Day 8 of the Strada Easel September 30-day Challenge  #stradaeasel

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1071-little-gem/926682

1070 For the Birds

 

The sunflowers on my roof are winding down, petals falling with any little breeze or motion.  I hate to see them go.  The birds have been pecking away at the seeds, so I suppose I will leave the mammoth stalks in the ground of the elevated containers for them to enjoy the seeds.  I love this little polka dotted box because it reminds me of my very first friend and neighbor in Milwaukee.  We used to pass it back and forth with little gifts for birthdays, etc.  It "appeared" at our back doors, always bringing joy to the recipient.  I miss her.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1070-for-the-birds/926368

1069 Tiny Dancers

 This sweet little vase was made by Renee Schwaller, owner of Off the Wheel Pottery.  I couldn't resist purchasing three vases, each having two different images when rotated.  I'm pretty sure you'll see more of them in my paintings in the weeks to come.  They are not much bigger than a shot glass.  If you visit Door County, please stop in to see Renee's work and the work of other potters.  

Today's painting is the 6th of the Strada Easel 30-day September challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1069-tiny-dancers/926016

1068 Quick Change Performance

 I very much enjoyed painting the hosta yesterday and wanted to paint it again today.  The vase is the same as in yesterday's painting, but rotated to reveal a different design.  It is one of my favorite pieces, purchased from a really great potter's studio and barn in Egg Harbor Door County called Off the Wheel Pottery.  Renee Schwaller is the really cool proprietress and I am proud to own many of her pieces.  

Today is Day 4 of the Strada Easel's 30-day September Challenge.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1068-quick-change-performance/925702

1067 Late Bloomer

I have many hostas in my front yard, but this is the only flower.  I often use the hosta leaves for my flower arrangements, and I really liked painting them.  I didn't fuss over the leaves as I did the flower, and I like that portion of the painting better.

1066 The Birds and the Bees

September 8.  I was initially very infatuated with the color color in the photo below, but have since tired of it in such a large quantity.  I still continue to tone my backgrounds with it.  The photo above reflects the new background color.

 I practically had to fight the birds and bees around the sunflowers on the roof to gain access to the flowers.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1066-the-birds-and-the-beads/925152

1065 Twinkle Twinkle

 I don't know what these flowers are called, possibly a relative to a Million Bells, but they have such happy faces and a brilliant magenta color, that I can't help but pause and be thankful that they exist in my garden.

Today is Day 2 of the Strada Easel September 30-Day Challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1065-twinkle-twinkle/924787

1064 Cuppa Sunshine

 Today is Day 1 of the Strada September 30-Day Challenge.  I decided to make use of my many black and white container props to provide some consistency. ( I'm a sucker for black and white. ) The marigolds are vibrant and plentiful in my rooftop garden.   

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1064-cuppa-sunshine/924557

Here is the Pay Pal link to purchase:

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1064-cuppa-sunshine/924557